Proteas Women gear up for opener with final warm-up match against India
Zaahier Adams
The Proteas Women have a final opportunity to fine-tune their skills today ahead of their ICC T20 Women’s World Cup opener against the West Indies in Dubai on Friday.
Laura Wolvaardt’s team came unstuck in their opening warm-up game against New Zealand on Sunday with the batting unit in particular struggling to adapt to the conditions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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They will face an even sterner test of their credentials against a powerful Indian team today in their last warm-up match. The Proteas have always relied on their top order to get the batting unit firing, and are largely dependent on their opening pair.
Skipper Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits were crucial in the Proteas’ run to the T20 World Cup final last year at Newlands.
Brits, however, has struggled in her past couple of matches with consecutive ducks. And although she managed a half-century in the second T20 against Pakistan, there remains concern about her strike rate.
The 56 not out came off 63 balls at a strike rate of 88.88. And while Brits has always been confident of upping the ante during the latter stages of her innings, her inability to rotate the strike during the power play has come under scrutiny. It also puts pressure on the rest of the batting unit.
The Proteas should, however, be boosted by the return of star all-rounder Marizanne Kapp for the India clash after she missed the last couple of matches.
Kapp is an integral part of the Proteas’ batting unit, and should slot in at No 3 with Wolvaardt returning to open the batting after Anneke Bosch opened with Brits against New Zealand. The veteran’s power, particularly in the power play, is crucial to the Proteas’ chances at the World Cup.
Proteas Women’s squad for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Laura Wolvaardt (Captain), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Suné Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloé Tryon.